Lesson 1Tools for cutting, folding, and punching: knives, bone folders, folding sticks, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, and marking gaugesLook at tools for cutting, folding, and punching needed in hand bookbinding. Learn safe and exact ways to use knives, bone folders, ploughs, sewing frames, awls, and gauges for smooth edges, true folds, and even sewing spots.
Picking and caring for knives and bladesCutting mats, straightedges, and guidesBone folders, Teflon folders, and folding sticksPloughs and guillotines for trimming blocksSetting up sewing frames and aligning supportsAwls and templates for sewing holesLesson 2Types and weights of paper: features of 90–120 gsm uncoated papers, fiber mix, and how they act when foldedStudy uncoated papers from 90–120 gsm, looking at fiber mix, surface, and folding ways. Learn how grain, sizing, and thickness affect lasting, show-through, and fit for various binding types.
Wood pulp against cotton and mixed fiber papersThickness, caliper, and stiffness in text blocksInner and outer sizing and ink actionFolding strength and tests for repeated openingOpacity, show-through, and print clarityPicking papers for sewn or glued textsLesson 3Overview of adhesives: PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, starch pastes — features, working time, soak-in, and undoabilityLook into usual bookbinding glues, comparing makeup, work time, soak-in, bend, and undoability. Learn when to pick PVA, wheat starch paste, methylcellulose, or mixed pastes for firm, fixable bindings.
Types of PVA, bend, and aging waysMixing and cooking wheat starch paste safelyUses of methylcellulose, thickness, and undoabilityMixed pastes for set tack and work timeGlue soak-in and paper sizing effectsStoring, labeling, and avoiding dirtLesson 4Grain direction: finding grain, why it counts for folding, sewing, and casing-inGrasp grain direction in paper, board, and cloth, and why it matters for folding, sewing, and casing-in. Learn easy tests to find grain and how right lining cuts down warping, rippling, and spine strain over years.
Easy grain tests: curl, tear, and wet lineGrain in text paper and endpapersBoard grain and warping effectCloth grain and weave way on casesPlanning layout and cutting for grainRisks of wrong-grain buildingLesson 5Boards, cloths, and cover papers: thicknesses, stiffness, bend curve, and pick rules for often-handled booksCheck boards, cloths, and cover papers for books handled a lot. Learn how thickness, stiffness, bend curve, and surface lasting affect ease, safety, and life span, and how to match items to task needs.
Comparing board types: millboard, binder’s boardPicking board thickness for book sizeCloth lasting, weave, and backing papersCover paper weight, strength, and opacityBend curve and hinge work at jointsItem mixes for heavy-use booksLesson 6Safety, workshop setup for body ease, and lasting-material picks for archive strengthLearn safety ways, body-friendly setups, and archive-thinking material picks for long-keeping work. Covers tool use, posture, light, air flow, and choosing steady, low-gas items that age true and safe.
Knife safety, cutting ways, and first aidBench height, seating, and body lineLight, magnification, and eye easeAir flow for sprays, solvents, and dustPicking pH-neutral, buffered materialsAvoiding gas-off and weak plasticsLesson 7Finishing materials and guard coatings: acrylic sprays, waxes, size mixes; good and bad for cloth-covered hardbacksLook at finishing items and surface guards for cloth-covered hardbacks. Compare acrylic sprays, waxes, and size mixes for safety, shine, and touch, weighing long-term steady, undoability, and user needs.
Acrylic sprays: film build and aging risksWax finishes: putting on, shine, and slipSize mixes for cloth: recipes and thinningTesting coatings on scraps before useBalancing safety, touch, and lookUndoability and re-do thoughtsLesson 8Measuring and layout tools: templates, spacing reckoners for spine width, grain extra, and cover overhangsLook at measuring and layout tools for true case building. Learn to use rulers, squares, templates, and spacing reckoners to find spine width, grain extra, squares, and cover overhangs for steady outcomes.
Steel rules, squares, and dividers in layoutReusable templates for usual book formsReckoning spine width from text thicknessPlanning cover overhangs and board squaresExtra for swell, linings, and endpapersNoting measures in task sheetsLesson 9Threads and sewing aids: linen thread, waxed against unwaxed, tapes, cords, and sewing tapes featuresStudy threads and sewing aids in hand binding. Compare linen thread sizes, ply, and waxing, and check tapes, cords, and sewn aids to grasp how they affect swell, bend, and build strength.
Linen thread grades, ply, and pull strengthWaxed against unwaxed thread: good and badMatching thread size to paper and section numberCloth tapes, paper tapes, and their waysCords and raised bands for old stylesControlling swell with aids and pull
